Sidney Mason JARRATT

JARRATT, SIDNEY MASON - Sidney Mason Jarratt of Bathurst, New Brunswick, passed away gently in his sleep on Saturday October 11th, 2003. Born in Kenogami, Quebec, on April 15, 1914, he was the eldest son of the late William E. Jarratt of Maidstone, Kent, England, and Alice Glenys Sidney, of Lincoln, New Hampshire. He was pre-deceased by his brother Bill (William) of Fredericton, his infant twin brothers and his eldest son Billy, who died at age 58 in Nelson B.C. on August 3rd 2003. Sidney was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Sidney was admired for his skill as a master fly tier, his specialty being classic Atlantic salmon patterns. He began tying flies in 1939, and was well known among the salmon and trout fishing community throughout New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. He was a lifetime member of the Nepisiquit Salmon Association and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Atlantic Salmon Federation in 1997. In 1998, Sidney was featured in a CBC Television vignette tying a classic Orange Parson salmon fly and he was the subject of several newspaper articles over the years. His classic patterns were part of an exhibition of New Brunswick fly tiers that traveled throughout the province and his work appeared in a publication about fly tiers that was produced in the Miramichi. Sidney graduated from Rothesay Collegiate School in 1933 where he was known by the nickname "Skim Milk" by his schoolmates, Tim Ellis, Phil Loosen and Dick Steele, with whom he was still in contact. Sidney excelled in sports at RCS: he was the triple jump champion and captain of the 1933 hockey team. His days at Rothesay were a big part of his life and, much to his regret, he was unable to participate in his 70th anniversary reunion this summer due to illness. Sidney came from a long line of paper makers: his father emigrated from England to Canada in the early 1900s to work in senior management in the booming Canadian pulp and paper industry, settling in Kenogami, Quebec. In 1923, when Sidney was nine years old, the family moved to Bathurst where his father was Superintendent of the groundwood mill at Bathurst Pulp and Paper. Following in his father's footsteps, Sidney was employed at the Bathurst Consolidated mill throughout his working life. He spent many hours discussing the latest developments in technology with his younger friends who continued to work at the mill after his retirement in 1979. Sidney had many friends and acquaintances who were a great comfort to him throughout his long and interesting life. John Nöel and the members of the Murray Group as well as the Pathfinders in Big River were among his close friends and will be fondly remembered by the family. Thanks go to those who took the time out of their busy schedules to visit Sidney during his month long hospitalization and especially during the past year at home when he was unable to get out and about. A special thanks goes to Dr. Barnhill and the nurses and sitters of the 2nd and 3rd floors, as well as the Palliative Care unit at Chaleur Hospital for their excellent care of Sidney. He leaves behind him his loving wife, Lucy Catherine, daughter of the late Patrick and Beatrice (Moran) Hennessy, as well as his eight surviving children: Glenys "Sally" (husband Dr. Brian Warriner) of Richmond, BC, Anne (husband Jim MacDonald) of Weekawken, New Jersey, USA, Sidney "Snooker" (wife Donna Hall) of Nelson, BC, son Peter (wife Beverly Doucet) of Bathurst, John (wife Paula Doucet) of Fredericton, Theresa of Bathurst, David of Calgary, AB, and Melynda (husband Dan Weston) of Fredericton. Sidney had twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren of whom he was extremely proud and he will be fondly remembered by them forever as Grandpa. The funeral was held in Holy Family Church, Monday October 13th, presided over by Father Jean-Robert Leger. In keeping with Sidney's interest in the preservation of local history, the family would appreciate any donations in his name be made to the Bathurst Heritage Trust Commission, in care of Jessica Ryan, towards the establishment of its new Archival Center in Bathurst.